Pelosi fires back at Gingrich over climate ad

By Byron Tau

01/08/12 10:20 AM EST

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi fired back at former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Sunday, after Gingrich described an 2008 climate change ad he made with Pelosi as "the dumbest single thing I’ve done."

"Well, I don't want to make any comments about Newt Gingrich, he who has been fined $300,000 by the ethics committee — you think he'd consider that a big mistake," Pelosi said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"Since you brought up my name in association with him as the dumbest thing he ever did, I think there is plenty of stiff competition for that honor as far as his activities are concerned," the California Democrat said.

Gingrich has apologized to Republican voters for the 2008 ad that was partially organized by former Vice President Al Gore. But Pelosi said she had no regrets about making the ad with Gingrich.

"I'm not turning my back on the need for us to address the climate crisis in the world. I hope he isn't either," she said.